There were 287 black homicide victims in Missouri that year, with 246 of those slayings either in St. Louis or Kansas City, according to statistics provided by the FBI. The result is a black homicide rate of 39.90 per 100,000 black residents, far higher than Pennsylvania’s rate of 31.05 per 100,000.

Nationwide, the overall homicide rate for 2008 was 4.93 per 100,000, according to the Violence Policy Center, which issued its annual black victimization report Wednesday.

I thought this quote from a KCPD deputy chief was interesting:

“The question I ask is, how as a police officer can I keep two people who know each other from arguing?” said Kevin Masters, deputy chief with the Kansas City Police Department. “When 81 percent of the violence is based on an argument, and 75 percent know each other, I don’t know that there’s a lot I can do."

Monday, July 19, 2010

A 21-year-old from Kansas City has been charged in the shooting death of Stephon J. Robinson, Jackson County prosecutors state. Rafael M. Armstrong faces counts of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree tampering. The fatal shooting happened July 15 in the 5800 block of Michigan, and it left Armstrong with a gunshot wound. According to the court records, Armstrong and Robinson allegedly got into an argument. Armstrong told police that he pulled his gun and started firing after Robinson reached for his gun, which got stuck in his pocket.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

From KCPD:Today at approximately 11:30 a.m., KCMO police were called
to Armour and Campbell in regard to a shooting. Upon arrival, a
shooting victim (b/m, mid 20's) was located on the sidewalk with no
signs of life. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses say two
black male suspects wearing white T-shirts shot the victim and fled
westbound in a green Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix.

Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.

Friday, July 16, 2010

From Christine Vendel: A man was shot to death and another man was wounded this afternoon
near 58th Street and Michigan Avenue in a possible shoot-out in Kansas
City.

Police were called to the scene at 4:20 p.m. and found a man
who appeared to be in his teens dead in a driveway. A second man had
hopped into a passer-by’s car and asked her to drive him to a hospital.
His condition was not known Thursday afternoon.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

KCPD has identified the man found dead Tuesday outside a McDonald's in the 6400 block of Troost Avenue. Oladimeji Oladipo, 25, was studying economics at UMKC and worked as a corrections officer at the Jackson County jail. He was also supposed to get married next year, Christine Vendel reports. By all accounts, he was a good guy.

Police believe Oladipo was killed in a robbery. One mystery is why he was in that parking lot. He apparently arrived there sometime between midnight and 3:30 a.m., but the restaurant is closed at that time. (I thought that one had an all-night drive-through, but I guess I was wrong.) From Christine's story on Wednesday:

The victim stopped at the jail Monday night to see if he could pick
up an overtime shift, according to his brother. But the jail didn’t
need him, so he went to Walmart for groceries.

He returned home
about 10 or 11 p.m., then told his brother he was going out without
saying where or with whom. His brother said he doesn’t know what
happened.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

From Christine Vendel: Kansas City police today identified a man shot to death in his home Saturday as Jamie D. Johnson, 33. Homicide Sgt. David Bernard said it appears someone kicked in Johnson’s
door in the 8600 block of Bristol Avenue and shot him in his living
room. Police don’t know a motive.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime is organizing a prayer vigil at 7:30 tonight in the 4000 block of Vineyard, where 21-year-old Miles Moore was killed a week ago. Anyone with information about his case is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

KCPD has released the name of a woman found killed yesterday at Gregory and Elmwood, near Swope Park. (Not far from a baseball diamond.) Dandreia L. Trent was 51 and lived in Kansas City. Anyone with information about her case is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Thursday, June 24, 2010

KCPD is investigating a fatal shooting that happened about 10:15 Wednesday night in the 4000 block of Vineyard Road. A man was found fatally shot in his red SUV; two passengers say they were driving down the street when someone opened fire on them. More from the police after the jump.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Raul Dieguez, 20, faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action for allegedly shooting and killing 15-year-old Juan Garcia, Jackson County prosecutors say. Garcia was killed during a fight May 31 in his front yard in the 1500 block of Belmont. Police say they have witnesses putting Dieguez at the scene, including the man who drove Dieguez away from the shooting. Dieguez was picked up yesterday.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The Kansas City Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children plans a ride Saturday. Registration begins at 10 a.m. at Stables Grill, 627 W. Missouri 92 in Kearney. The cost is $20 for each driver and $10 for each passenger.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

KCPD is investigating after a dead body was found inside a black plastic bag north of Indian Mound Park, near Gladstone and North Belmont. Police were sent there about 3 p.m. It's not clear yet if the victim is male or female. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Monday, June 14, 2010

A Kansas City man has been convicted of killing 24-year-old Devin Cassidy in Westport in September 2008. Last week, Brandon R. Smith was found guilty of second-degree murder and other charges in the death of Cassidy, who was found shot in her car near 42nd and Pennsylvania. Another defendant, Claude Sterling, pleaded guilty last year. Cassidy was a microbiologist who lived with her family in Leawood; she was trying to save for a house. After the arrests were made, police said the suspects were looking for gas money. Here's an old Midtown Miscreant post about the case.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

It's been five years since Jerry Watkins, 36, was fatally shot while riding in the 2500 block of East 30th Street in Kansas City. The other people in the car raced her to the police station on Linwood Boulevard, but it was too late. The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime plans to hold a vigil in Watkins' honor at 6 tonight outside that station.

Watkins was an aunt to Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins, a local rapper who was murdered in Las Vegas several weeks before her death.

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Kansas City police are investigating a double shooting from last night where one person has died. It happened about 8:45 p.m. on Linwood near Highland, not far from U.S. 71. The victims were both men, and it was the passenger who died. The driver, at last report, was critical. KMBC says that police are trying to see if that case might be linked to a shooting from earlier in the evening, near 35th and Brooklyn.

Friday, June 04, 2010

From Glenn Rice: A Clay County judge has denied a bond reduction for a Northland man
accused in the slaying death of his wife, who has been missing for more
than a year.

Shon Andrew Pernice, 37, was indicted two weeks ago
by a Clay County grand jury with first-degree murder even though
authorities have not found the body of wife, Renee M. Pernice, 35.

Pernice is being held on a $1 million. His attorney, Eric Vernon, said
Pernice has complied with the requirements set while being on
electronic monitoring. However, authorities have said Pernice is a
significant flight risk. Investigators said when they arrested Pernice
several weeks ago, he was preparing to move to a duplex in Liberty.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

From Tony Rizzo: Police have identified the victim of a fatal Memorial Day shooting in
northeast Kansas City as 16-year-old Juan C. Garcia. Garcia, of
Kansas City, was shot about 3:20 p.m. in the 1500 block of Belmont
Avenue.